[protected-iframe id="31bffd4276f2dca79ece36b50be9b3fa-58441833-57875119" info="http://cinesport.ajc.com/inline/3445880087001/#nolink;" width="600" height="364" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"] Each morning, from now until the draft starts on May 8, we'll do a short profile of a player we are projecting to be on the Falcons' Draft Board. We'll focus on team-needs, possible selections, players the Falcons have worked out and/or interviewed, etc. With the Falcons having 10 picks, we'll start out by focusing on potential late-round picks and then move on to early-round picks. Today we'll look at Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz.
Player: C.J. Fiedorowicz
Position: Tight end
School: Iowa
Height and weight: 6-5 1/2, 265
Combine numbers: 4.76 seconds in the 40-yard dash; 25 reps on the 225-pound bench press; 31 1/2-inch vertical; 9-8 broad jump; 4.26 in the shuttle and 7.10 in the three-cone drill.
Projected Round: He's the fifth rated tight end in the draft and projected to be selected in the third or fourth round by NFLDraftScout.com.
Career Highlights: Fiedorowicz played in the Senior Bowl and was named the most outstanding tight end/wide receiver. He completed his career with at least one pass reception in 31 straight games, which ranked second among active FBS tight ends. He played for the Hawkeyes as a true freshman in 2010.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Quotes: "I think (the tight end position) has evolved more as a receiving guy. You have a Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis. He does a little bit of both but those are guys who are pretty good receivers. If you get a guy who can do both, that's a big asset to a team. … I was a receiver in high school. I didn't know what it was like to put my hand in the ground and actually block defensive ends. So it was a little frustrating, but once I got the hang of it -- it's a mindset, (you've got to) want to block somebody. I kind of picked that up and I realized if I want to get on the field I've got to block."
Falcons level on interest: The incomparable Tony Gonzalez has retired. The Falcons know they can't replace him, but at the very least, they need a blocker, who can also work well in underneath zones. At Iowa, he executed a lot of inside and outside zone blocks. He's adept at setting the edge on outside runs. Blocking from the tight end position will be more of a priority for the Falcons.
Here are the Falcons draft picks:
- Round 1 -- No. 6 overall
- Round 2 – No. 37 overall
- Round 3 – No. 68 overall
- Round 4 – No. 103 overall
- Round 4 – No. 139 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5 – No. 147 overall
- Round 6 – No. 182 overall
- Round 7 – No. 220 overall
- Round 7 – No. 253 overall (compensatory)
- Round 7 – No. 255 overall (compensatory)
FALCONS' DRAFT BOARD
--A look at Louisville LB Preston Brown
FALCONS REWIND
--Blog: Falcons are not switching to a 3-4 defense front, they've been using it for past 2 seasons
--Blog: New jersey numbers picked; Devin Hester to wear No. 17
--Blog: Falcons awarded three compensatory picks
--Blog: Lamar Holmes was a performance-pay leader in 2014
--Blog: Umenyiora will return in 2014, no restructured deal
--Blog: Falcons release FB Bradie Ewing
--Blog: Falcons WR Roddy White owes Mercer fan some prime tickets
--Blog: Falcons owner Arthur Blank engaged to be married.
--Blog: Former Falcons WR Kevin Cone to work out for Carolina
--Blog: Falcons re-sign defensive tackle Peria Jerry
--Blog: NFL to move forward on cleaning up 'on-field' language
--MyAJC ($): Falcons spend $80 million in free agency to buy toughness
--Las Vegas doesn't like Falcons' free agency moves
--Falcons Free Agency Tracker -- Falcons have committed $107.36 million to salaries
--Q&A with PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
--Q&A with Falcons right guard Jon Asamoah
--Q&A with Falcons defensive end Tyson Jackson
--Q&A with Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai
2014 NFL DRAFT CENTRAL
--Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons trade out of sixth spot to land Pryor and Ebron
--12 teams who could draft UGA star Aaron Murray
--Louisville LB Preston Brown to work out for the Falcons
--Louisville DE Marcus Smith to work out for the Falcons
--MyAJC ($): OT Greg Robinson, DE Dee Ford shine at Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Tackle Greg Robinson on Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Running back Tra Mason on Auburn's Pro Day
--Blog & VIDEO: Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has stellar Pro Day showing
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